The Queen and King of Soul Food
Harr_0471374725_c01.qxd 10/3/00 9:03 AM Page 1 1 SYLVIA AND HERBERT WOODS SYLVIA’S RESTAURANT The Queen and King of Soul Food I don’t stay still long enough to relax. Even when I’m in bed, I’m thinking. It had only been 30 minutes since the doors to the world-famous Sylvia’s Restaurant opened, but, as usual, the place was already packed. Scores of family, friends, fans, and some of the biggest names in Harlem had come to help Sylvia Woods celebrate the release of her second cookbook, Sylvia’s Family Soul Food Cook- book. Under slightly dimmed lights, flashbulbs flickered, cam- corders rolled, and nearly 400 guests shared “Remember when . .” stories. The bluesy sounds of a live jazz band filtered through the quaint and cozy quarters of this Harlem-based restaurant that has become a historic landmark and a revered tourist attraction. Not one person was without a plate. Some diners had piled- high portions of smothered pork chops, fried catfish, crisp col- lard greens, golden-brown macaroni and cheese, and sugary candied yams. Others were working their way through barbe- cued ribs, southern fried chicken, potato salad, black-eyed peas, and fluffy squares of cornbread. These are just a few of the soul food favorites for which the down-home restaurant has be- come known over the past three decades. (The recipes are in the cookbooks.) Then there is the “Queen of Soul Food” herself: Sylvia. She is just as popular as the home-style Southern cui- sine she serves. 1 Harr_0471374725_c01.qxd 10/3/00 9:03 AM Page 2 2 Against All Odds Dressed in an understated yet classic black dress, and greet- ing her diners with a motherly smile, Sylvia effortlessly made her way from table to table, exchanging hugs and kisses, posing for pictures, signing autographs, and chatting with guests.
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